Arts & Crafts: Laurie Craw

Laurie Craw is our dear friend and a wonderfully talented writer. She is also a talented artist and potter. Here are a few of her works that we own and love. Three of the pieces came to us from my sister Debi recently as she downsizes after retirement.

Heart-shaped slab bowls:

I especially like the pottery "kudzu" basket so I'll use several pictures.

And here's a "kudzu" wreath.

And another.

When our youngest, Lillian, was born, Laurie painted this for us:

She also painted an oval ceramic disk to commemorate Brannon's birth in 1983 -- but I can't that right now.

[More to come] 

 

Patsy

Today Sheila and I attended the graveside memorial service for Patsy Dooley Goodrich. We did not know Patsy well and only met her a few times through of dear friend and Patsy's sister, Laurie Craw. The service was led by the Rev. Natalie Falkner pastor of Cave Spring United Methodist Church. The Rev. Keith Drew, a former pastor at that church sang one of my favorite songs, Morning Has Broken, accompanying himself on guitar. He also delivered an eloquent eulogy and led the family and friends in singing Amazing Grace,

Here is the online obituary posted by the funeral home. 

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Patsy Dooley Goodrich, 79, of Winterville, GA passed away on September 7, 2023 at a hospital in Athens, Georgia after a long illness.

Known to her friends as Pat, she was born in Floyd County, Georgia on October 9, 1943, daughter of Posey A. and Bonnie Teat Dooley. She is survived by her husband, James Goodrich of Winterville; sister, Laurie Dooley Craw, brother-in-law, Steve Craw of Cave Spring; niece, Rachel Craw of Brooklyn, NY; nephew, Sam Craw of Atlanta and two step-daughters, Laura Brown and Stephanie Goodrich.

She was a graduate of Cedartown High School and the University of Chattanooga, where she earned a BS degree in Medical Technology. She began her career as a Medical Technologist and retired from the US Department of Agriculture, Russell Research Center in Athens. 

Patsy was an avid traveler and outdoors adventurer. She and her husband visited every continent and had many adventures in jungles, mountains, oceans, glaciers and deserts of the planet and delighted in all the nature and animals they encountered. She was a longtime member of the Athens Rock and Gem Club and the local Red Hat Club and held a private pilots license.

She is remembered by family and friends as a gracious lady devoted to family and friends. A strong, self-reliant woman with a big heart.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 11:00am in the family lot of the Northview Cemetery.

Craw Kids and Shaw Kids

Brannon, Rachel, Sam, Lillian, Sheila, Laurie --- anyone remember the circumstances around theses first three pictures?

I happened upon this old photo of Rachel and Sam Craw with our daughter Brannon. I do not remember the occasion!

This is in the from =yard of our house on Cedar Avenue. L-R: Lisette Lewis, Lillian Shaw, Brannon Shaw, and Rachel Craw 

Rachel and Brannon - ware is this?

Brannon and Rachel at Brannon's wedding reception in Vista, California in 2016.

 

Anamchara

"...anyone without a soul friend is like a body without a head." - Brigid of Kildare

I have been privileged in my seventy-five years to have some true "anamchara" -- soul friends. Kindred sprits are so vital to a well-lived life. Sheila is my best friend. She has seen me at my best and at my worst and still she loves me.

Today it struck me as I fellowshipped at Mike Burton's Anamchara Gallery in Cedartwon, that I was among kindred spirits. My pictures are not great but I post them here so that I can revisit this day more easily.

Mike bought this storefront in downtown Cedartown and, with his usual reckless abandon, set about transforming it into a recording studio, film studio, musical venue, art exhibit space. He wants his music-loving boys, Miles and Cody, to have a performance space. He wanted his artist friends, John Johnston, Grover Hogan, and others -- as well as himself -- to have studio and exhibit opportunities. He wanted his folk music enthiusiasts, like me and Richard Ware, to have a place for "hootenannies". He envisions it as a spot for storytelling, recording, and videoing. So he just plunged in and did it. Will it work out financially? It's a long shot probably, but how I admire this fearless grab-life-by-the-horns "anamchara" of mine.

I was about to snap a picture of this ceramic sculpture by John Johnston when the artist wheeled a big trash can behind it!

Michael J. Burton has been my friend since the 1960s. Some of the drawings on the wall and the bronze scultures in the foreground date back a few decades. I have always admired Mike's drawings and his scultures. We have one in our living room.

I remember Kieth Drew (on the left) as Mike's young preacher friend from several decades ago when he was pastor at Cave Spring United Methodist Church. Stve Craw has been our friend since 1975, and was our business partner when we were publishers together of Broadside weekly newspaper in the seventies.

Miles (left) and Cody Burton (only his hat shows above the music stand) are Mike's sons. They have developed into pretty good musicians!

Grover Hogan (left) is Mike's cousin and mentor. His exquisite prints line one wall of the exhibit. Lucy Hale has also been a friend and kindred spirit in progressive political endeavors over a couple of decades. 

Mike (right) and Stephen Hale solving the problems of the world together.

The ceramics on this table were by a younger artist whose name escapes me right now and whom I had not met before.

Sheila (right) and Laurie Craw exploring the art. Laurie is a wonderful painter and potter herself.

Gleaning Facebook: Visiting the Cherokee Cabin

What a treasure for Cave Spring to have the Vann cabin preserved, right there on the square. Cave Spring is also fortunate to have Steve and Laurie living just a couple of city blocks off the square. And Sheila and I are fortunate to have these three kindred spirits in our lives --- wild-eyed liberals, the true conservatives, IMO.

The front of the Vann cabin, decorated with three other antiques.

Mike Bock & I got a personal tour of the restored Vann cabin in Cave Spring. What a wonderful thing that this treasure, hidden in the walls of the Green Hotel for many decades, has been revealed and reconstructed, and preserved for the future. We owe a graet debt to Steve Craw, Michael J. Burton, Billy W Abernathy, and a hundred other Cave Springers for their hard work and dedication in this effort.

 

Gleaning Facebook: Laurie Craw on Medicare

I have no idea what I posted that drew this comment. Often posts shared from other places on the internet just disappear. I did not want to lose Laurie's comment in regard to Medicare. 

 Find me a senior citizen on "single-payer" Medicare who complains about it and wants to ditch it. I LOVE my Medicare. Of course, I was taxed for it all my working life, but as a percentage of my income, matched by my employers, and now I pay the standard premiums, but they are affordable (and had better STAY that way.). I have never encountered a doctor or hospital or lab that said, "Sorry, we don't accept Medicare" so of course I get to choose my doctor and all other providers, no matter where I live. I pay no co-pays on most preventive screenings and have never had them reject a claim. I get mental health benefits as well as physical. There is still the 20% co-insurance which can be significant with surgery and hospitalization but so far we've been able to pay that part on a monthly payment plan. Point being, government CAN do it right, it can be affordable for all, it can be simple to understand and simple to get care. Nothing to be afraid of, folks!

- Laurie Craw

Gleaning Facebook: Gladys Morris First Grade Class

Laurie Craw I tought you might like to see this pic that my friend Zelda Buford shared on the McHenry facebook page.

Laurie Craw

Wow! Aunt Gladys really DID teach first grade at McHenry. I only saw her at home, never at work or with children. It's so strange that the adults in our childhood lived these "other" lives we never saw. Wish I could get a copy of this picture, but will save it here to show Rachel and Sam. Uncle George Morris was on the McHenry school board, I think. Do you know?

Terrell Shaw

I remember you telling me that. I wonder when the McHenry Board ceased to exist?

 

Gleaning Facebook: 1000 'Friends!'

My goodness! An old neighbor from Cedar Avenue, Buddy Chambers, just "friended" me, and gave me an even 1000 Facebook friends, the vast majority of which I actually know.

Comments

Laurie Craw
Wow. You need to start selling ads.

Nancy Johal Singh
Wow you really are popular...I think I might a few friends requests after this year but I doubt I will reach a 1000 anytime soon

Laurie Craw
You're back to 999. I just Unfriended you out of spite. Kidding.

Terrell Shaw
I have "unfriended" a few, and a few have "unfriended" me over the years, Laurie. But I have few spirits on my list as kindred as yours. Please remain my friend!

Laurie Craw
Well, OK.

Terrell Shaw
Nancy, there are just a lot of folks who a curious about what fool thing I'm gonna post next. 

Raymond Atkins
the richest man in town...

Terrell Shaw
You are right about that, Ray. Blessed, even.

Gleaning Facebook: Little Rachel

 We always consider her partly ours, too.

Happy Birthday, Rachel.

From the birth announcement for Rachel Craw. Steve's artwork.

Laurie asked me to take some summer Christmas pictures of Rachel that they could use for their Christmas cards. These are my efforts.

I love the wry expression. She's thinking, "I've got these idiots wrapped around my little finger."

Enough is enough!

Hiking through the redwoods. L-R: Sheila, Laurie, Rachel

At home in Oakland with the proud new Pa.

Chubby Cheeks and her beautiful Mama, in the redwoods.

We took several beautiful walks. I loved exploring the tide pools and cliffs along
the shore north of San Francisco

Resting on the shore of the Pacific north of the Golden Gate.

Sleepyhead and her Pop. I like the hat.

That fellow on the left looks like a lucky man to me.
The gorgeous girl on the right looks a little shifty-eyed, though.
Rachel Craw: Also, interesting sweater? er, shirt? sweater-shirt?
Terrell: 1979. What can I say? This is on the same walk as the earlier picture of you and Laurie and Sheila. I guess Steve was at work.